Package of matches



Feb. 18, 1936. E M SOLON PACKAGE of' MATCHES Filed Jan. 30

Inc/@1415K A dwf/7 M60/on M mm UNTE STATES PATENT QFFICE PACKAGE OFMATCHES Edwin M. Solon, Chicago, Ill. Application `lanuary 30, 1933,Serial No. 654.207 Y 3 Claims.

The invention relates generally to matches and more particularly to apackage of matches.

The general object of the invention is toproa new and improved packageof matches which is compact, which contains a relatively large number ofmatches of convenient size, and

A further object is to provide a package of this character which, whensome of the matches have been used, by its size, indicates the quantityof matches remaining.

Still another object is to provide a package permitting the matches tobe struck Without danger of accidentally igniting those remaining aspart of the package.

A still further object is to provide a package which permits the size ofpackage.

Another object is to provide a package of matches which presents a freshstriking surface for each match as the matches are used.

Another object is to provide a match having a striking surface thereonfor use in igniting another match.

A further object is to provide a novel method of packaging matches.

Other objects and advantages will become ap- 35 parent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package of matches embodying thefeatures of the invention. 40 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the package when the matches are ready for use.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the matches used in the packageherein shown.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each match, as shown inFig. 5, comprises a strip 50 It of rigid burnable material such as stiffpaper used in the ordinary paper match, the strip preferably being ofgreater width than thickness.

' At one end of the strip, a head I I is formed, which comprises theusual igniting material adapted, 55 on being struck on a suitablesurface, to set re to the strip I. At the other end of the strip, astriking surface I2 is provided. The material used on such surface andthe igniting material in the head preferably are those ordinarily usedfor the so-called safety match, although the striking surface may bemade merely of an abrasive and the head of such material as may bereadily ignited by such abrasive.

In making up the package, a plurality of such matches are bound togetherwith their side faces in face-to-face relation. In such relation, theheads I I at one end of the matches and the striking surfaces I2 at theother end are of substantially the same thickness, so that the ends ofthe package are of equal width and the intermediate portions of thematches are held in spaced relation.

In the preferred form of match, the material constituting the head I Iis placed only on one side face and on the edges of the strip I0, thusYleaving the other side face bare, while the striking surface I2 at theother end of the match is placed on said other side face. Thus, theheads II and the striking surfaces I2 bear a staggered relation to eachother in the package, and since the head leaves one side face bare, arelatively small amount of igniting material is used, thus reducing thecost. The head may be formed in this manner by placing two matchesside-by-side and dipping them in the igniting material at the same time,thus further reducing the cost, and then separating them preferablybefore the igniting material has hardened.

When it is desired to use a match, the end match on the side of thepackage on which the striking surface I2 appears is removed. The removalof said end match uncovers the striking surface on the next match, whichsurface is to be used in striking the match removed. A fresh strikingsurface is thereby provided for striking each match, and the packagegradually eliminates itself as the matches are used.

To avoid danger of igniting the matches remaining in the package, themovement employed instriking a match is preferably in a direction awayfrom the head. But, should it be struck by a movement in the otherdirection, the side face above, so that there is practically no dangerof igniting the matches remaining in the package. To bind the matchestogether in making up the package, means is provided which rigidly holdsthe matches together but which permits .one to be readily removedwithout disturbing the bindmaterial affixed ing of the remainder, thusleaving the remainder of the package intact. Such means is preferablyseverable as by tearing or cutting. As shown herein, this meanscomprises a pair of strips I3 of relatively thin material such as tissuepaper which does not add materially to the thickness of the package andwhich may be easily severed. The strips I3 extend transversely acrossthe matches on the respective sides of the package and are secured toeach match as by gluing them to the respective edges thereof. Preferablythe strips I3 extend across the intermediate portions of the matcheswhich are held in spaced relation to each other by the heads andstriking surfaces, so that the strips may be cut by running the thumbnail along in the space between two matches.

For the purpose of selling or distributing packages of such matches, thematches when bound together may be wrapped preferably in transparentmaterial such as cellophane, as shown at I4 in Figs. l and 2, and cardI5 carrying advertising matter may be enclosed within the wrapping, suchcard being visible therethrough. If so desired, printing may be placedon each match intermediate the ends and preferably on the side faces.

In use, the cellophane wrapping and the card are removed, and the matchat the side of the package at which the striking surface I2 appears (theleft side as shown in Fig. 3) is removed from the others by tearing thebinding strips I3 or eutting them with the thumb nail. Such removal ofthe end match exposes the fresh striking surface on the next match,which may be used in igniting the removed match, Thus, as the matchesare used, the package gradually eliminates itself, there being no rigidcover which occupies substantially the same amount of space as long asany matches remain. The size of package, after some matches have beenused clearly gives an indication of the number of matches remaining.

The package is compact, and a maximum length of match is permitted for agiven size of package, since no part of the length of the match is usedsolely for binding.

I claim as my invention:

'1. A package of matches adapted to diminish in size as the matches areused comprising, in combination, a plurality of matches each cornprisinga rigid strip of burnable material, igniting on one-side face of eachstrip adjacent one end leaving the opposed side face bare, strikingmaterial amxed on said bare face adjacent the other end of each strip,said matches being arranged in face-to-face relation with the ignitingand striking materials holding said strips in spaced relation to eachother, and a binding strip glued to the edge of each of said strips andextending laterally intermediate the ends thereof and bridging the spacebetween the strips, said binding strip being made of readily severablematerial whereby each match may be disconnected from the others bysevering the binding strip at the space between said match and the nextadjacent match.

2. A package of matches comprising in combination, a plurality ofmatches each comprising a stiif strip of inflammable material, ignitingmaterial attached on one side face of each strip adjoining one endleaving the opposed side face bare, striking material attached on saidbare face adjacent the opposite end of match strip, said k striking andigniting materials being of approximately the same thickness, saidmatches being alined in face-to-face relationship with the igniting andstriking materials holding the match strips in spaced relation to eachother, and a pair of readily severable transverse binding stripsadhering to opposite edges of said match strips whereby each match maybe parted from the other matches in the packet by severing the bindingstrips at the space match next adjoining,

3. A package of matches comprising, in combination, a plurality ofmatches each comprising a strip of ignitable material having edge facesand relatively broad side faces, igniting material affixed on one of thebroad side faces at one end of the strip leaving the opposed side facebare, striking material affixed on said bare side at the other end ofthe strip, said matches being arranged witli their broader facesopposing each other with the igniting and striking materials providingspaces between the match strips between the igniting and strikingmaterials, and thin readily tearable paper glued to the edge faces ofthe match strips and located between the igniting and striking materialsand bridging the spaces between the match strips whereby each match maybe readily detached from the package by running a finger nail in thespace between said match and the next adjacent match and thereby cuttingsaid paper.

EDWIN M. SOLON.

between a match and the

